Disney Premier Visa Review

disney premier visaThe Disney Premier Visa is targeted at people who frequently visit Disney resorts and want to earn decent rewards on purchases made there and elsewhere.  The reward structure of this card is heavily weighted towards money spent at Disney resorts as well as the DisneyStore.com and Disney Store locations.  The Disney Premier Visa is issued by Chase.

New account holders currently have the opportunity to earn a $100 statement credit upon approval.  To receive this credit, you must make $500 worth of purchases on the card within the first three months that your account is open.

Card members can take advantage of a 0% introductory APR for the first six billing cycles each time you purchase a select Disney vacation package or purchase a real estate interest in a Disney Vacation Club Resort.  Purchase amounts must be between $101- $10,000. After that time, the APR on purchases will be 15.24%.

Card members earn 2% in Disney reward dollars on all grocery, gas station, and restaurants purchases made on the Disney Premier Visa.  Purchases at most Disney locations (including Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line and Disney Stores) also earn 2% reward dollars.  All other purchases on the card earn 1%.  The 2% cash back rewards benefit people who typically spend in these categories.  There are no rotating categories with this card so there is no worry about suddenly having to make purchases at places you don’t shop in order to earn rewards.  Card members also save 10% on select merchandise purchases made on the card at Disney Store and DisneyStore.com ($50 minimum).

Reward dollars earned can be used towards a variety of Disney-related rewards.  These include DVDs, clothes, toys, resort stays and dining at Disney restaurants.  For people who are Disney fans or have family members who are, this is a great perk.  The amount of reward dollars card members can earn is not limited and there are no block-out dates when you redeem.

The annual fee for the Disney Premier Visa is $49 which is not waived for the first year.  By comparison, the Disney Rewards Visa Card has no annual fee but card members only earn 1% cash back rewards (Disney dollars) on all purchases.  The new member bonus differs also.  New account holders with the Disney Rewards Visa Card receive a $50 statement credit after making their first purchase on the card.

Cardholders are charged a 3% foreign currency fee on the total price of all purchases made on the card while outside of the U.S.  For people who mostly travel domestically, this may not be a concern.  However, if you frequently travel abroad, there are rewards cards which do not charge this fee.  You might want to consider one of them to avoid wasting money on unnecessary fees.

The Facts

Below we’ve broken down the specifics of the Disney Premier Visa to help you decide if it’s a good choice for you.

The Good:

Signup bonus:

New card members are eligible to receive a $100 statement credit after spending $500 on the card within the first three months of activation.  Balance transfers, credits, and returns do not count towards this qualifying amount.  It may take 6-8 weeks for this credit to post to your account.

Multiple ways to earn rewards:

Cardholders earn 2% in rewards dollars for all grocery, gas, and restaurant purchases – and any spending at most Disney locations – with the Disney Premier Visa.  All other purchases earn 1% in rewards.  These rewards are automatically applied to your account. You do not have to sign up to receive them and the categories do not change.

Statement Credit:

Redeem a minimum of 50 reward dollars for a matching statement credit – towards air travel or any other expense. Each reward dollar is worth a $1 credit on your statement. This statement credit option is only available with the Disney Premier Visa and not the standard Disney Rewards card.

Disney rewards:

Reward dollars earned can also be applied to a vast array of Disney-related products.  These include:

  • DVDs
  • Toys
  • Accessories
  • Clothing
  • Dining at Disney restaurants
  • Annual/Seasonal park passes
  • Resort stays

Card members can save 10% on select merchandise purchases made on the card at Disney Store and DisneyStore.com ($50 minimum).

The Bad:

Annual Fee:

The Disney Premier Visa charges an annual membership fee of $49.  As rewards cards go, this amount is in the middle-range.  However, there are many rewards cards available which do not charge an annual fee and still offer generous rewards.

Foreign transaction fees:

This card charges card members a 3% foreign transaction fee on every purchase made on the card outside of the United States.  If you don’t travel overseas that often, this may not be a big deal.  But for people who routinely travel internationally, these fees can quickly add up and negate any dollar rewards you receive.

The Ugly:

Exclusions and restrictions on rewards:

This card offers a variety of Disney rewards to card members but there are restrictions, exclusions and spending minimums.  Reward dollars also expire five years after they are earned.

Benefits favor Disney fans:

This is a good rewards card for people who love Disney theme parks and products or have children or family members who do.  But if traveling to a Disney location is not in your immediate plans, there are many other travel rewards cards which offer cash back rewards.  Consider the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card.  It gives cardholders 2% cash back on all purchases and has a comparable $59 annual fee.  It also comes with broader travel benefits.